The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-09-03
GLADSTONE IN HIS CASTLE.
EXchanRe-

ceptlng the testimonial rom New York in the fascination of wood -chop- ping feats in Hawarden Park. Ha- warden Castle (pronounced Hardon) is just visible as you pass from rare old Chester to North Wales alongside "the sands O Dee" It is of very moderate size, many a country house twice as imposing and it is mainly modern. The old castle saw any amount of savage fighting between the English and the warlike Welsh men. The property used to belong to the Tory Stanleys, the earls of Derby, but OH the seventh earl being beheaded tor treason, Hawarden was dismantled and the estate was bought by Ser geant Glynne, Cromwell's Lord Chief Justice. It came into the present ow nership through Mrs. Gladstone, who is a Glynne.
 It is not generally known that Mr. Gladstone is not the owner of Iiawar- den. The property belongs to his old est son, William Henry, who is lord of the manor, .. c., landlord. Strictly speaking, the ex-premier is only a guest of sufferance. Inside the castle there is much that proclaims the man. ner of man whose home it is. The walls everywhere may be said to be papered with books. Even some of the Hobbies stream with literature. And literature of every sort und, the sun, from sacred scriptures, ancient parchment, Homers and Virgils to ponderous parliamentary reports, the latest book of science, art, poetry, fic- tion and ephemeral publications Though he sold the bulk of his unique collection of china few years ago, MT. Gladstone still possesses q goodly share of his pet porcelains and many valuable pieces come to him as gifts. His own room is a chaos with some thing of an artistic purpose running through the disorder. Every table, chair, lounge, shelf and bracket bears some work of art, either portrait, a bust, medallion or carving, or curio of antique or modern make.
 Whatever he may be as statesman, MT. Gladstone would exchange good lump of his reputation in that depart ment for it's weight in fame as fiddler. We don't hear much of his scrapes on the violin of late, but he has two ex- cellent musical ears and he used rather to pride himself on the elegant figure he cut as a soloist. These two years he has devoted himself to the Irish harp.
 When he goes home for his holidays | fhio Hunn1orf,,l N1l p,,;t ,l.,o |, stitutes hard days work for the hard nights work of the parliamentary season. He dresses himself in light tweed suit, puts on slouch hat, ties a free-and easy bandana round his still freer and easier collar, and away he strides through the garden to early morning service in the village church. Though it is only a village church there is big parish to work, and we'll is it served by his youn. CT son, Ste- phen, whom he appointed about eigh- teen years ago. It is about the richest private living in England, producing some S16,000 year.
 To see MT. Gladstone walk mile on the turf is rich treat. Even in the streets of London he is about the most graceful and nimble pedestrian you will meet in day. He strides with the springy freedom of an athlete, and has all the eloquent grace of dancing master without trace of the dan dyism. More likely than not you will see him swinging his old hat in one hand while widening his collar with the other. Then into breakfast, wholesome, simple English breakfast, which he eats with hearty relish that is the envy of most of his juniors. Then, until lunch at two, comes in- doors-letters, Homer Che is always begging away at his Homer), the writing of magazine articles on the ology, Greek and Latin poetry, how to make jam, the Bulgarian question, practical forestry, old China, ancient Troy-goodness knows what Glad stone has not written, is writing or will write about, and always as an authority, too.
 He is most moderate eater, and a careful one at that. It was about year ago that he published the result of a prolonged scientific investigation he had been engaged in, the result being that he pronounces it essential to good digestion to take thirty-two distinct bites with each mouthful of food Chat is just one bite for each tooth, if you are lucky enough to possess a full seD, and he religiously does what he bids us do. Yet he chats away the meal times with all the easy volubility of a five-year-o old spoon-t feeder. Though temperate, Mir. Gladstone is not teetotal. He has too much common sense and self control. A glass of good ale at lunch and a couple of glasses of some old port at dinner are his drinking vices, and long may they enable the Grand Old Man to "renew his youth like the eagle" "hAx, %l.a